Rail-clamping mechanism



March 30 1926. 1,578,749

A. E. NORRIS RAIL CLAMPING MECHANI SM Filed August 2, 1925 2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 5 i YK lzawnENomia.

March 30 1926. 1,578,749

A. E. NORRIS RAIL CLAMPING MECHANISM Filed August 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tryin, Vd- .V-

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i is a specification, like characters on the draw- Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT;

OFFICE ALMON E. NoRRIs, or BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAIL-CLAMPIG MECHANISM.

viippiicaugm inea August 2,` 1923. serial No. 655,301.

To all fio/lont it may concern.'

. kBe it kknown that I, 'ALMoN E. Nonii'is,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brookline, in the county oi' Norfolk and State of whichthe following! description, in yconnection with the accompanying drawings,

ings representing like parts.

IThis invention relates to rail,claii'iping` mechanism, being more' particularly, though not exclusively, intended for use in connec-l vtion `with conveying bridges, traveling cranes or similar structures.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following` description when j vtaken in connection with the accompanying v illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

' In the drawings# l `Fig. l is an endei'evation, partly in seet-ion, showing the principal parts of a rail clampingV mechanism embodying onefofrm` of the invention, ythe clamping parts beingv shownin their closed-or applied position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the clamping parts in their open position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation,partly inV section, `oi the clamping mechanism shown in Fig. l and Fi l is a sectional )lan on the line l in Fig. l showing on an enlarged lscale the clamping devices carried by one pair of' clamping jaws.

-Reiferring to the drawings and to the einy bodiinent of the invention which is there selected for purposes of exenipliiication, there 4is shown a rail claii'iping mechanism comprising' d wo pairs of opposed and relative movable jaws, one pair consisting of the Vjziws 5 vand 7, and the othei` of the jaws S) and 1l, the jaws ,of each pair being diswill be vdescribed in detail.

posedon opposite ysides of, and withtlier active yor clamping ends Joperatively related f of liflassachusetts, have invented j anl improvement in Rail-Clamping Mechanism,

Va single clamp' coi'npising merely a single `pair of jaws, such as thefjalws 'and 7 operatively related to a single rail 15. ,T Vi-lerein the jaws 5 and 7 (and similarly the-'jaws 9 'and ll) are lprovided with shoesv v17 and'li which engageopposite sides ,of the Arail flange 13, while a shoe 21, which rests loosely on the top'oi4 the rail, assists in supporting the jaws. In `the illustratedform ot tl e invention', v'the shoe l? is zuijustablef l to compcnsateior wear as well as being renewable, and' to tliat end'jis provided with slotted eaisQB (see Fig. Vll) which receive a bolt 25 extending tl'irough the jaw .ri/and securing the shoe thereto. rilhe shoe 1 9v is. likewise renewable.

'lf he clamping is accomplished by moving the jaws toward each other and closing them aboutthe rail flange, thereby bringing the vshoes firmly into contact with the opposite sides'respectively of the rail ilange, this be'- ing accomplished by mechanism"hereinafter described. Assuming the shoe 19 is pressed lirinly against the vside of thev rail, the construction ofthe clainpis such as to provide 'for' the automatic self-tightening of the clamp to increase the gripping action inthe Y event thatthere is any tendency of the clamp and the connected structureV to move lengthwise the rail in either direction.

`'To thisend, the inner shoe 19 is under the control of arocker or cam shaped member 2'7" `(Figs. l and 4) whichislocated in arecess V29 in the jaw 7 and is ulcruined atits eoy inner end on an upright pin fixed in thef jav- Y Suitable connection is provided between the shoe and the movable cani rocker, whereby the movement of one is accompanied by movement of the other, the shoebeing. provided for this purpose with a tooth 83 which engages a notch in the opposedface of the rocker. This opposed face S'T'presents a work-ing suriacewhich is concentric with `its iulcrum, while the A,shoe v19 presents a co-` operating working surface 39 which is inclined in two directions with'relation to the rail engaging surface of the shoe-fthat is to say, the shoeincreases in thickness from "its central portiontoward vits ends, but the working sui-tace 39 of the slice 'preferably' ld iveii'ges somewhat roin'the .working-sun :face 37 of the rocker, the parts being'so vref lated and shaped that 'any movement of the rocker forces the shoeY with'iriereased pres-y Vsureagainst the rail Harige 'ande-nder avery" Cil great force duc to the cam action of the rocker. f

The shoe 19 is supported by al fiange 41 (see Fig. 2) overlying,- the edge of the rocker, which flange, together with the end projections 43 (see Fig. 4) operatively related to the sides of the rocker, assist in excluding dirt and other foreign matter, the projec-. tions 43 also serving as stops to limit. the lengthwise travel of the shoe.

The rocker cam 27 is normally maintained in central position by the opposed centering' plunger-s engaging recesses 47 provided in the sides ot the rocker and urged in gen erally opposite Vdirections by springs 49 having' their inner ends seated against abutments 51 on the plungers, and their outer ends against abutments 53 presented by chambered caps 55 secured to the jaw 7. The plungers protrude through the ends ot the caps and are adapted to move longitudinally Vthrough Vthe same as the springs yield. y Y

' The jaws 5 and 7 are connected to each ther by one or more, and herein a plun rality, of connecting links 57 which, as shown in Fig. 3, alternatev with ears 59 formed on the jaws. Rods 61 and 63 eX- tending; transversely through the earsand links provide pivots for the latter. The

- ears 59 for the jaw 7 rest upon the supporting shoe 21 and the links 57 also rest upon the shoe and thereby support the jaiv 5. A lug 4) formed on the central portion ot' they shoe 21 and extending between tivo of the links compels the shoe to travel With the jaws as the structure moves along the iail.

Assuming` that the jaw 5 is swung to a closed position, bringing the .slice 117 against the side of the rail, any further closing pressure acts through the links 5'? to bringthe l shoe .19 into contact with the opposite side ot the rail and thereafter to bring,l equal pressure to bear on both sides ot the rail.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the tip vof the jaw is provided With an'underlying' lug 6T which projects beneath one side of the rail flange and prevents the clamp from be-4 ing, lifted from the rail should the truc-k or structure carrying the clamp have any, lifting tendency.

To cause the clamp to hold the structure against such lifting tendency, the movable jaws 5 are mounted (see Fin'. 3) between xed jaws or abutments 69 which are carried by a member 7l securedY to al' frame 73.

The confronting' edges `of the fixed abutments are beveled, as at', and the adjacent links 57 are correspondingly beveled, thereby preventing the abutments 69. and the `attached :trame members from lifting to a greater extent than What is permitted by the position ot the rail clamp.

The` clamping` mechanism described is de- Y,

,signed particularly for attachment to the trucks of a traveling conveyor bridge of a general construction Well known in the art.

lhe bridge itselt is omitted for sake or clearness and a `fragmentary part 73 only of the truck frame is herein shown, the restbeing broken away. It will be understood, hoW- ever, that the clamping devices, located, as they are, between the inclined abutinents (S9 of the truck traine, are carried along by the latter as the bridge travels 'from point tc point, the clamping devices receiving their support from the rail through the supporting shoe 2l. YWhen'tlie clamp .is closed and set, any lateral or lifting` movement of the truck and its structure is prevented by the truck frame abutinents 69 with the cooperating parts of the clamp.

`When the jaws are Closed about the rail and the shoe 19 on the jaw 7 is brought iiito firm gripping contact with the rail, any tendency of the bridge structure to shift its position lengthwise the track from any cause Whatever Will act to move the ljaw 7 along the track flange and, since ythe shoe 19 is held in frictional engagement with thiI track, this in turn immediately rocks the movable cram member 27 about its tulcrum 31, automatically increasing the gripping pressure of the shoe because of the shape of the cooperating` Working surfaces 37 and 39 of the cam and the shoe respectively.. Ac-

cordingly, any tendency of the structure to n move' in either direction when the clamp is properly set [automatically increases the resistance of the clamp to displacement. and in proportion to the :torce which is tending` to cause such displacement.

if a clamp of this character fails to hold properly, disastrous results may follow and the action oit such a clamp should be certain under all conditions. In a seltetightening clamp of this character, it is desirable that when the clamp is set the jaws should be positively closed in every instance in order that the self-tightening clamping' member, such as the shoe 19, shall have initially a iirm, unyielding grip under the full force of the jaw closingmechanism. @Wing to varying rail dimensions, or for other reasons, clamps of the self-tightening character, when apparently closed and set by their jaiv actuated mechanism, are in fact but iur perfectly so because the contact of the vselttightening member with the rail is insulticieiit to cause the clamp to function properly and certainly at all'times in respect toits automatic tightening feature. To obviate this I have herein provided means whereby, at the Will of the operator, the

clamping' mechanism herein shown may be j 'able clamping` position to accommodate varying rail dimensions, such variable settingbemgpositive and nnylelding and unyirs Vtive of Varying rail dimensions.

y necting link 77. The upper end of the jawl 5 is provided with upstanding ears 79 between which is tixedly secured av part, such as the short rod or piece or' shaiting 81, which y is threaded toreceive a threaded portion 83 or' the screw shaft 85.' rfhe upper end ot' the corresponding jaw 9 of the remaining pair is provided with similar ears 8T and a similar threaded member 89, the latter having engagement with the threaded portion J1 of the screw shaft 85. VThe portions 83` and 91 are oppositely threaded so that when 4the shat't is turned in one direction the jaws are closed, as shown in Fig. 1, and when turned in the opposite direction the jaws are opened as shown 1n Fig. 2. Power means may be utilized ttor turning the shaft 85 if.

desired, but herein the same is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 93. By turning the hand wheel the jaws may be closed, in the position shown in Fig. 1, and a powerful leverage exerted in bringing the shoe 19 into firm, unyielding, rietiona-l engagement with the rail. The threaded portions of thefscrew shaft 85 are of suiiicient extent to provide for variable positions of the jaws when closed and to provide for applying to the jaws the same, vfull, positive closing iorce under all conditions irrespec- By this means the rail clamp can be repeatedly set up and all uncertainty avoided as to whether its initial grip on the rail is sufficient to insure its .proper yfunction.

`While I have herein shown for purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, itis to be understood that .the same is not limited to the detailed tea- `tures or' construction Aherein shown or to the relative arrangement oi' parts, but that extensive deviations may `be made,all without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim- 1. A device for securing a structure to a rail, comprising opposed pivotally mounted jaws' operatively'related toopposi're sides' of the rail, self-tightening' clamping devices carried by one of the jaws and including a, movable cam member adapted, when said jaws are moved to apply the clampingr devices, to be moved through the fractional engagement ot' a jaw carried part with the rail to increase the grip ot the 1jaws therein asthe structure tends to move in either direction along the rail, connected mechanism comprising a screw which may be turned to close or open said jaws, said screw being' movable at the will of the operator to move the jaws toward the rails toy variable positions ot positive setting with relation to they rail to meet varying rail dimensions, and a hand operated device for turning said screw.

2. A device for securing a structure to a pair oi rails, comprising pairs oi' opposed jaws, one pair operatively related .to the opposite sides of each rail` one jaw o' each pair being pivotally' mounted for movement toward and away from its rail, a link pivotally connecting' the remaining aw ot each pair to the iirst mentioned jaw a screw having threaded engagement with the free ends oit each pivotally mountedjaw and adapted to be turned to'inove said jaws toward or away Jrre-m each other, thereby to close or opensaid pairs of jaws and to move the jaws Atoward the rails to variable positions of positive setting with relation to the rail to meet varying rail dimensions, means for turning said screw, a self-tightening clamping` device carried by. one of the jaws of each pair and including` a movable cain member adapted 'when said jaws are closed to be moved` through the 'frietional engagement ot' the jaw carried part on the rail when the structure tends to move in either direction along the rail,y and thereby to increase the grip of thejaws thereon.

3. In a rail clamp, the combination withV a jaw, of a clamping device adapted when' applied toV automatically increase its grip on movement in either direction lengthwise the rail, a second operatively related jaw having a vlink 'connection to the first jaw and having a prolonged` end, movement. of which .is adapted to open andclose the j aw, an operating shaft haviing` a threaded engagement with the prolonged Vend of said jaw, and means-for turning said shaft to release the clamp or to positively apply'thc samewit-h variable positions of setting.y

4. A devieefor securing. a structure to a rail comprisingclamping means, and including a device' automatically responsive' to m vement ottl the structure in either direction for forcing agrippingpressure oi' the clamping n'ieansagainst the raih and a manually operated screw controllable by the operator at lwillV vfor unyieldmgly movinggsaid clamping means to positions of variable setting and in clampingpositioii with relation to the rail.

j In'tes'timony whereof, I have signed my 

